Spiro, a partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, did not initially respond to The Post’s request for comment on Wednesday, and City Hall also remained silent. In a press release, Spiro expressed his enthusiasm for supporting the Turkish company’s leadership team, stating, “I am pleased to support them and the company as we reach scale and achieve profitability in 2025.” Known for representing high-profile clients such as Alec Baldwin and Jay-Z, Spiro shared, “I have had the good fortune of working with some of the greatest entrepreneurs and companies in the world.” This statement was released following the election of the board.
Mayor Eric Adams, meanwhile, continues to deny any wrongdoing. Adams faces allegations of accepting over $100,000 in flight upgrades from Turkish Airlines as well as hotel upgrades during numerous trips to Istanbul over a span of five years. Federal officials have further accused Adams of receiving illicit “straw donations” from Turkish nationals for his 2021 campaign, leveraging these illegal contributions to secure $10 million in taxpayer-funded matching campaign funds. Prosecutors claim that Adams, in return for these lavish benefits and donations, exerted pressure on the FDNY to permit the opening of the consulate building, known as Turkish House, despite it failing a fire inspection.
Despite these allegations, Adams has adamantly denied any misconduct and has refused to step down from his position amidst the ongoing scrutiny. Pleading not guilty, Adams has articulated his intent to contest the charges in court the following year. Reflecting on his stance, Adams remarked in August, “It takes a great deal of discipline to not say something when you know you’ve done nothing wrong.”
Erden Arkan, the Turkish-born proprietor of KSK Construction Group in Williamsburg, purportedly involved in showering Adams with unlawful straw donations, is anticipated to enter a guilty plea in the corruption case, as per federal officials’ statements released on Monday.
